April 2nd is Autism Awareness Day.  Recently the Centers for Disease Control published that the incidence of autism occurs in 1 in 88 people rather than 1 in 110 as previously reported.  Just today, Steve Silberman wrote a blog post entitled Autism Awareness is Not Enough: Here's How to Change the World which features responses to the question from a number of activists who are parents of and individuals on the Autism Spectrum.  Their thoughtful insight included should not be missed.

At SJPL, we have resources for families with children on the Autism Spectrum and other special needs.  Below are just a few titles available on the topic.

Our Inclusive Storytimes are geared for children of all abilities and everyone is welcome.  Inclusive storytimes have some adaptations that we have made to help everyone participate and have a good time.  Our librarians went through disability awareness and adapted storytime training with staff from Parents Helping Parents, a local organization that specializes in working with families of children with special needs. 

Your baby will start talking at around 2 years old, but he or she can actually communicate with you using their hands much earlier than that - as early as 6 months old! Imagine your baby being able to share with you that he would like some milk or that her tummy aches using sign language instead of fussing, crying, and whining.

In this 4 week series, parents will learn the benefits of signing using fun activities. Our instructor is trained in ASL (American Sign Language) and will share her expertise with you and your baby.

Location: 

Evergreen Branch Library

Preregistration required?: No

Date/Time:

Thursday, April 5, 2012 - 11:30am

Thursday, April 12, 2012 - 11:30am

Thursday, April 19, 2012 - 11:30am

Thursday, April 26, 2012 - 11:30am

Wonder Struck (AR 4.0, Level 5.4) by Brian Selznick is a beautiful book.  This title follows the story of Ben and Rose.  Ben's story unfolds in words and Rose's story unfolds in pictures.  Both characters are connected by a desire to find people that are missing from their lives.  After the death of Ben's mother, he yearns to find his father.  Ben's mother, Elaine, has told him nothing about his father.  However, after accidentally finding information that may lead to his father, Ben sets out for New York City, where his father last lived.  Will Ben find his long-missing father?

Rose is desperately unhappy living with her father.  She has been creating a scrapbook about the career of a  mysterious actress, Lillian Mayhew.  Feeling that Ms. Mayhew can help her, she sets off for New York City.  What will she find there and how will Ms. Mayhew help her?

Both stories are set apart by fifty years.  However, both characters are similar in that they are both deaf.  What is truly remarkable about both characters is the lack of sadness or anger about their disabilities.  Both courageously go to one of the largest cities in the world, sure of their purpose.  The reader is immediately drawn into both stories because of the remarkably life-like drawings and compelling stories.

Brian Selznick, the Caldecott Medal winner for The Invention of Hugo Cabret (AR 4.0, Level 5.1) once again makes a movie-like book.  Mr. Selznick has said that his interest in this story began when he learned about the new sound technology in 1927, which would affect the deaf community.  Prior to 1927, both hearing and deaf people could enjoy the movies together.  After 1927, deaf people were left out of the experience of enjoying film.

Boomerang kids : a revealing look at why so many of our children are failing on their own, and how parents can help / Carl Pickhardt

Many young people college age and older are returning  live with parents at a time when they themselves, their parents and society expect them to be living on their own and economically and psychologically independent. Psychologist Carl Pickett, writer for Psychology Today’s weekly blog Surviving (Your Child’s) Adolescence, describes the period between 18-25 as trial independence. The challenges during this time include: missing home and family, managing increased freedom, flunking out of college, unemployment and losing a job, roommate problems, broken love relationships, substance abuse, indebtedness, stress, emotional crisis, fear of the future.  This easy to read book gives “parenting prescriptions“ summarizing actions that parents can take in supporting their children's recovery and strengthening their readiness to try again for independence. Also recommended for teachers and others who work with those in this last stage of adolescence.

The Rancho Rosetta Trilogy:  Millicent Min, Girl Genius, (AR 8.0, Level 5.8) Stanford Wong Flunks Big Time, (AR 9.0, Level 3.8) and So Totally Emily Ebers (AR 9.0, Level 3.9) are about the adventures of three VERY different kids during ONE memorable summer.  Each novel is told from the point of view of one character.  It is intriguing to witness events from different view points.  And these three kids couldn't be more different!

Millicent Min is academically gifted but socially inept.   She feels that her intellect is too intimidating for other kids.  Feeling isolated by her peer group and by her classmates in high school, she is elated to find a kid who doesn't know how smart she is.  Over the course of the summer, she becomes best friends with Emily Ebers.  She also tutors the basketball jock, Stanford Wong.  As the tutor and tutee get to know each other, she also inadvertently befriends him, as well.  How long will she be able to hide her intellect from Emily and endure the juvenile jokes from Stanford? 

Stanford Wong is the big man on campus at Rancho Rosetta.  Admired by all, he is annoyed to find out that he must take a make-up English class over the summer.  Embarrassed by his failure, he is further chagrined to have to be tutored by the hated Millicent Min!  YUCK!  In addition to his school troubles, he must also contend with his disapproving and distant father and with the removal of his Grandmother to the retirement home, Vacation Village.  Another complication is his developing feelings for the incomparable Emily Ebers!  Will Emily figure out he is not as great as she thinks he is?

Emily Ebers is the kind of person everyone wants to befriend.  Sunny and light, Emily can't figure out why her mother has divorced her father or why her mother has moved them across the country to California.  However, she is determined to meet new friends, so she is immediately drawn to Millicent because of shared interests.  Stanford Wong also attracts her eye, when she notices him in the drug store, where her heart is immediately engaged!  What will she do when she finds out about both Millicent and Stanford?

Lisa Yee has also written Warp Speed, which I have blogged about before.  She has a keen sense of humor.  Check out her blog for some of her funny insights!

When Parents Text: So Much Said...So Little Understood is written by two best friends, Lauren Kaelin and Sophia Fraioli. It's a social account of funny text messages exchanged between parents/grandparents and their children/grandchildren. When "old fingers meet tiny keypads," we can expect to see hard-to-understand-and-yet-loving messages and emoticons.

Please check out the authors' website whenparentstext.com to get some more tastes of these hilarious texts.